Vending machine



1935- A. E. GEBERT ET AL I 2,010,542

VENDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 8, 1932 I (16f tilde-ZZZ er flyroizjificcizar on Aug. 6, 1935.

A; E. GEBERT El AL VENDING MACHINE Filed April 8, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A g- 6, 93 A. E. GEBERT El AL VENDING MACHINE Filed April 8, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 2; H1576 656% did? 012 Aug. 6, 1935. A. E. GEBERT ET AL VENDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 8, 1932 6, 1935- A. E. GEBERT ET AL 2,010,542

VENDING MACHINE Filed April 8, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fizz/6722 0717.

Patented Aug. 6, 1935 PATENT OFFICE VENDING MACHINE Albert E. Gebert, Wilmette; and Myron H. Richardson, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Advance Machine Company, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application April 8, 1932, Serial No. 603,938

15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in vending machines of the type in which the articles to be vended are arranged in a column consisting of supports one above the other'and properly spaced to receive articles therebetween, each of the supports holding its respective article or articles, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide in a machine of this character supports which are arranged in a fixed inclined position and from which supports the articles, when released, will slide by gravity to be delivered.

A further object is to provide improved means cooperating with the supports for retaining the articles upon the supports and improved means for rendering the retaining means inactive, by shifting the same, with relation to their respective supports, to release the articles.

A further object is to provide improved means common to the retaining means for selectively rendering the retaining means inactive whereby the article or articles held by a predetermined support may be releasedto be delivered to the operator.

A further object is to provide improved means for looking or rendering inactive the actuating means for releasing the articles, until the selective means has been set to a proper position with respect to the article holding supports.

To the attainment of these ends and'the aocomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanyingdrawings illustrating this invention and in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine of this character constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22, Figure 1, on an enlarged scale and with parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line 4-4, Figure 2, with parts omitted.

Figure 5 is a view partly in vertical section, partly in elevation and partly broken away, of a form of coin controlled mechanism.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6, Figure 3.

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on line l-1, Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the releasing unit or member, with parts omitted.-

Figure 9 is a sectional view-taken on line 99, Figure 3, with parts omitted.

Figure 10 is a View similar to Figure 9, with omitted and showing the parts in a different position.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the check carrying device and the means for preventing discharge of the check therefrom.

Figure 11 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of another form of the invention.

Figure 12 is a sectional view' on an enlarged scale, taken on line IZ-IZ, Figure 11, and with parts broken away.

Figure 13 is a rear elevation of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 4, of coin controlled mechanism.

Figure 15 is a detail sectional view taken on line |5-|5,'Figure 13.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 10, the numeral designates an enclosing casing of suitable size and configuration, having an opening 2! in the front wall thereof, which is adapted to be closed by a transparent closure, and

such opening may be of any desired size and con- H Arranged within the casing and supported in 0 any desired or suitable manner are a series of downwardly inclined article supports or platforms 2% any number of which may be provided and may be of any desired size. These supportsare arranged above and spaced from each other a suitable distance to permit of the insertion of articles thereupon, and which articles when released are adapted to fall preferably upon an inclined support 26 to be delivered to the operator through the delivery opening 22.

The articles are preventedirom being discharged from the platforms by means of a suitable retainer preferably in the form of a substantially U shaped member 21 pivotally mounted as at 28 so that a portion of the member will extend across the supports 24 and will be spaced thereabove a suitable distance so as to be en. gaged by the article 25, as more clearly shown in Figure 2. The retainers 2'ljare held in a proper position with respect to the supports 24 in any suitable'manner preferably by means of a pin or projection 29 adapted to be engaged by oneof the arms of themember 21. One extremity, of the member '21 is bent downwardly as at 30and outwardly as at 3!, and this downwardly bent portion serves as a means for rocking the members 2? about their pivots so as to raise them sufliciently, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, to disengage the article 25 and to move thereabove so that the article will slide by gravity off of the support 2d.

The downwardly projecting portions BS-H of the members 2? are adapted to be engaged by an actuating member so as to rock them about their pivots to permit the discharge of the articles. Any suitable means may be provided for thus rocking the members 2'3, but a simple and efficient means embodies an actuating dog 32, see particularly Figures 9 and 10, which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends as at 33 upon a collar 3t. This collar is sleeved upon an upright bar or rod 35 which is angular in cross section and is supported for rotation about its axis by means of suitable brackets The rod is arranged so as to extend along and in proximity to one edge of the supports 2 and the dog 32 projects beyond the collar and into a position that when the rod 35 is turned upon its axis in one direction, one end of the dog 32 will contact with the downwardly projecting portion 35 of the member 2 7 to rock the latter and thereby raise the same out of engagement with the article 25 on the support 24. When, however, the rod 35 is moved in the opposite direction, carrying the collar 36 with it, the dog 32 will move about its pivot 33 and thereby pass the extremity of the member 21.

This is accomplished by reason of the fact that a spring 38 is provided which is anchored at one end as at 39 to the collar 34 and is connected at 5! by its other end to the dog 32 and tends normally to move the dog 32 in one direction until a portion of the dog engages the stop pin l! The collar 34 may be formed in any suitable manner but preferably by means of a body portion 12, see particularly Figure 8, which is reduced in external diameter, circular in cross section and upon such portion is sleeved another collar 63, and this latter collar is held against displacement with respect to the collar 3 by means of a collar 24 secured in position by means of a suitable fastening screw 45. The collar 3 1 is adapted to be reciprocated upon the rod 35 and is held against rotation with respect thereto by means of the rod and the interior of the portion of the collar 3% being angular in cross section, but the collar or sleeve 33 is loosely mounted upon the collar 3% so that the latter may turn with respect to the sleeve. Connected with the sleeve dis is a pointer or indicator 65 which passes between the front ll of the casing and a member 48 (see particularly Figures 2 and 6) arranged at the rear of the supports 24 and co-operates with indications z-S arranged along the side of the opening 2|. By reason of the indicator &6 the sleeve 43 will be held against rotation when the rod 35 is rotated, but at the same time the movement of the sleeve 35 upon the rod 35 will not be interfered with. The indicator 56 is arranged in a position with respect to the dog 32 so that when it registers with a predetermined one of the indications it the dog 32 will be in a position to engage the depending portion 38 of the retainer member 2? to rock the latter about its pivot when the collar as is moved in one direction. When,

however, the indicator '36 is not in register or properly positioned with respect to the indications 49, the dog 38 will be either below the extremity of the portion 3! of the member 2'5 or above the same, so that when the rod 35 is then rocked, the member 27 will not be affected thereby.

Any suitable means may be provided for moving the collar 33 together with the sleeve Q3 and collar M lengthwise of the rod 35. A simple and efiicient means, however, embodies an endless flexible member 50 preferably in the form of a sprocket chain which passes over sprocket wheels 5i preferably adjacent the top of the casing and a sprocket Wheel 52 preferably adjacent the lower end of the casing, and the diameter of the sprocket wheel 52 is considerably greater than the diameters of the sprocket wheels 5! so as to position the runs of the sprocket chain 53 that they will not interfere with the operation of the other parts of the mechanism. The collar 34 is connected to one of the runs of the endless member 53 preferably by means of the sleeve 53 being secured thereto by a suitable fastening device 53 (see Figure 3). It will therefore be manifest that when the sprocket Wheel 52 is rotated, a traveling movement will be imparted to the endless member 58 to raise or lower the collar 3 which constitutes the selecting mechanism to be hereinafter referred to, and to position the indicator 46 with respect to either one of the indications 9, and likewise the dog 32 with respect to the end of the member 'Z'E.

Any suitable means may be provided for imparting motion to the endless flexible member 50 such as an operating handle 54 arranged adjacent the delivery opening 52 and which handle is connected to the sprocket wheel 52 so that the selecting mechanism may be controlled and op-- erated from the outside of the machine.

Connected with the sprocket wheel for rotation therewith is a disc 55 provided with one or more notches 5i; in its periphery and co-opera-ting with these notches is a pin 5'5 carried by a lever 53 intermediate the ends of the latter and which lever is pivotally supported as at 59. A spring til tends to move the lever 58 in a direction to cause the pin El to travel about the periphery of the disc 55 and to enter one of the notches 55. This lever 58 serves as a means for holding the collar 34 in its adjusted position, but the spring 68 is of a strength to permit the sprocket'wheel 52 and disc 55 to be rotated by the handle 54.

It will thus be manifest that when the sprocket wheel 52 is rotated, the collar 34 and the indicator it may be moved to any desired position and when the indicator is in register, withone of the indications t9, one of the notches 55 will be in a position to receive the pin 57 and at the same time the dog 32 will be in a position to engage the extremity of one of the members 2'! to rock the latter when the bar or rod 35 is moved about its pivot in one direction. Any suitable means may be provided for thus rocking or turning the rod 35 about its pivot. A suitable and efficient means embodies a coin controlled mechanism designated generally by the reference numeral 6| into which a suitable coin or token is adapted to be inserted through an inlet opening 62.

The coin controlled mechanism is preferably of a type which embodies a check carrying member 63 having a check seat 54 adapted to receive the check 65, and which disc 53 is adapted to be rotated by means of a suitable operating handle 65 located in a convenient position for the operator and on the outside of the machine.

Connected with the disc 63, in any suitable manner, is another disc 6'! preferably through the medium of a connection 68 (see Figure and con ected to this disc 61 by one end as at 69, is a link it, the other end of which is pivotally connected at H to an arm 72 carried by the rod or bar 35, so that when the handle 55 is operated, the disc 5! will be correspondingly operated and through the medium of the link it! will rock the bar or rod 35 about its pivot in one direction or the other, according to the direction of rotation of the handle 65.

It will therefore be manifest that when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 3, should the rod or bar 35 be rocked about its pivot the dog 32 will engage the depending portion'of one of the members 2? and yield to pass the same, so that when the rod or bar 35 is moved in the opposite direction, the dog 32 will again engage the depending projection of one of the members 21 and rock the latter about its pivot to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2, to release the package 25, thereby allowing the latter to fall or slide down off of the support M to be delivered. When the rod 35 i rocked in the opposite direction upon the return or the handle the dog 32 will pass the depending projection of the member 2'5, the latter falling back to the -full line position shown in Figure 2, after the dog 32 has passed out of engagement with the depending portion 3! of the member 21.

In order to insure the operation of the check controlled mechanism it is necessary, as is usual in devices of this character, that the proper check 65 shall be deposited into the coin controlled mechanism and then delivered out of the check seat 24 to perform or constitute a connecting mechanism between the check controlled mechanism the operating mechanism controlled by the coin controlled device. In the ordinary coin controlled mechanism, means are provided for the return of the check in the event that the machine is empty or in the event that an improper check or token is inserted. In the present invention, means are provided so as to insure the proper operation of the mechanism or the proper positioning of the dog 32 to actuate the selected member 21 to discharge the article from the cooperating support Unlessthe dog 32 is positioned properly to rock one of the members 21, and the rod 35 moved about its pivot, it will be man fest that the check will be lost to the operator and no article will be delivered, even though the machine may be full.

It is therefore another one of the objects of the present invention to provide a means whereby the actuating means for the releasing member 21' will be properly positioned before the machine can be operated. This is accomplished by controlling the discharge of the check or coin from the check seat in the manner which will now be described.

Connected with the end of the lever 58 by means of a link 13 (see particularly Figure 3) is one arm '54 (see also Figure 2) of a rock shaft l5. The rock. shaft is provided with an upwardly projecting arm l6 having the extremity i? thereof deflected laterally to enter an opening 18 (see also Figure 4) of the casing'of the co-in'controlled mechanism and this deflected extremity H is adapted to be positioned beneath the check seat of the disc 53 when the seat is inverted so that the check 85 will be held from beingdisplaced from the seat 64. This operation is effected by the operation of the lever 5%. When the pin 51 carried by the lever 58 engages and rests upon'the periphery'of 'thedisc 55, the rock shaft will be moved in a direction to cause the extremity ll of the arm it to assume the position shown in Figure 4, is so that the check fil'rwill not fall out of the seat E l when the latter is inverted. During the time that the selector mechanism embodying the collar 33 and the associated parts is being positioned with relation to the predetermined support 24, the pin 5?! of the lever 58 will ride upon the periphery of the disc 55 and therefore if the selector mcchanisin is not properly positioned, and a coin or check is inserted in the opening E2, the disc 53 will be rofated by the operation of the handle '55, and this will turn the bar or rod :35 upon its axis in a direction to cause the dog 32 to engage the depending portion of the retainer member 2i and yield or move about its pivot 83 and pass such portion 39 and move to the position shown. in but as the check will not be discharged fl'Ol'l'l the check seat, (the return mechanism for the disc 61 common in devices of this character) the iso ill will not be returned by the return operation of the handle 65 there fore the rod or bar 35 and the selector mechanism will remain in the position shown in Figure 9, and the check will be returned.

Ii, however, the selector mechanism is properly positioned, the pin 51' will enter one of the notches of the disc causing the extremity of the deflected portion ll of the arm it to be withdrawn out of the path of movement of the check 55 from the seat thereby allowing the check to fall and operativ-ely connecting the disc ill with the handle so that the bar or rod 35 will be moved in the opposite direction upon the return movement of handle i5 3 thereoy cause the dog 32 to engage the extremity ii of the retainer member ill to rock the latter about its pivot and thereby release the package, the parts being moved into the position shown at the lower portion of Figure 2 in dotted lines.

It will therefore be manifest that in order to efiect a delivery of any of the articles, the selector mechanism including the indicator 45, must be properly positioned with respect to the support of the predetermined article to be delivered so that the pin on the lever 55% can enter one of the notches 56 of the disc 55.

This will prevent a partial operation of the mechanism and the delivery of the articles from more than one of the supports 2 because the bar or red 35 and the selector mechanism including the dog will be locked against operation immediately upon the movement of the dog 32 out of its actuating position.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 11 to 15, the mechanism embodying the disc 5i?)v lever and the rock shaft '55, together with the associated mechanism including the operating handle 5 3, are dispensed with, and the elector mechanism including the collar 34 and og with the associated parts are adapted to be moved lengthwise of the bar or rod by means of a handle 79 which is connected with a sleeve 88 that corresponds with thesleeve 43, and which latter sleeve is adapted to be rotated independently with respect to the bar or rod 35 and the collar This l9 projects through a slot Si in the front 32 of the casing, which extends lengthwise thereof, and com municating .vith this slot 8i are downwardly inclined slots or seats 83, the latter being arranged in predetermined positions with respect to the supports 24 to cause the dog 32 to be properly positioned with relation to the depending portion 3! of the retainer members 21.

With this form of the invention and in order to select a predetermined article to be delivered, the operator grasps the handle l9 and rotates the sleeve 8% with respect to the bar or rod 35 until the handle is in a position to be moved lengthwise of the slot 85. The selector mechanism can then be adjusted in either direction with respect to the rod until the handle it is adjacent the opening of the lot or recess 35, corresponding to the support upon which the article to be selected rests. The handle is then laterally shifted to rotate the sleeve 3Q, causing the handle to enter one of the recesses, seats or notches 83, to hold the selector mechanism in a proper operating position. The rod or bar 35 is then rotated in the same manner as with the form or" the invention shoe. in Figures 1 to 1G, to actuate the member 2'5 to release the article 25. Likewise, by similarly adjusting the selector mechanism the article from another one of the supports may be delivered.

If desired, and in order to form a closure for the slot 3i and the slots or recesses 83, a shield S may be provided, preferably in the form of an endless flexible member which passes over a pulley below one end of the rod or bar 35 and pulleys 83 adjacent the top or" the machine. This shield is preferably in the form of a band or apron of substantial width to form a closure for the slots and to extend beyond the sides thereof.

The shield may be operated in any suitable manner so as not to interfere with the operation of the setting of the selecting mechanism, preferably by providing a slot or opening ill in the shield (see particularly Figure 11) through which the handle is passes.

In all other respects the operation of this form of the invention is the same as that described in connection with the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 10.

It is thought that the operation will be clearly understood from the foregoing, but briefly stated it is as follows. In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 10, the operator first sets the selecting mechanism (i. e. the collar 3% and its associated parts) with relation to the particular support 2 3- which holds the article to be vended, causing the indicator it to be moved into proper registering position with relation to the specific indicator 49. This will cause one of the notches 56 on the disc 55 to be positioned to receive the pin ill of the lever 58 so that the shaft '55 will be rocked in a position to withdraw the deflected extremity ll of the arm it so as to permit the check 55 to fall out of the seat ti l when the latter is inverted, and thereby complete the connection between the operating handle 66 and the disc 6? of the coin cont-rolled mechanism. Upon rotation of the handle 66 in one direction, the bar 01' rod 35 will be rocked from the position shown in Figure 10 to the position shown in Figure 9, causing the dog 32 to pass from in front of the depending portion 3i of the member 2'! to the rear thereof, as shown in Figure 9. Upon the return movement of the handle 66, the bar or rod 35 will be moved in the opposite direction or from the position shown in Figure 9 back to the position shown in Figure 10. During this movement of the bar or rod the dog 32 will be maintained against movement about its pivot by reason of one portion thereof engaging the pin 5 i. As the dog then engages the portion 3! of the member 21, the latter will be rocked about its pivot or raised to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2, to permit the article 25 to slide from the support 2 3.

Should the selector mechanism not be properly positioned, neither of the notches 56 of the disc 55 will be in a position to receive the pin 5'? on the lever 58 and the check 65 will then be held against delivery from its seat 54, with the result that the bar or rod 35 will be moved only to the position shown in Figure 9, as the disc 6? will not be locked with the disc 63 for return movement of the bar or rod 35, and the check or coin will be returned to the operator.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 11 and 12, the operation is the same, with the exception that the selector mechanism will be set by means of the handle lel being moved in the slot 8! until it is in position to enter one of the slots or seats 83.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:---

1. In a vending machine, a plurality of spaced superposed inclined stationary article supports, retaining means individual to the supports for maintainin the articles thereupon, releasing means common to the retaining means for rendering the latter inactive to release the articles, means for selectively positioning said releasing means, means for actuating the releasing means when thus set, and means for maintaining said releasing means against operation by the said actuating means until the releasing means has been moved into a predetermined set position.

2. In a vending machine, a plurality of spaced superposed inclined stationary article supports, retaining means individual to the supports for maintaining the articles thereupon, releasing means common to said retaining means for rendering the latter inactive to release the articles, means for selectively positioning the releasing means adjacent the retaining means, means other than said positioning means for actuating the releasing means to render the retaining means inactive, and means for rendering the releasing means inactive by the said actuating means until the releasing means has assumed a predetermined set position.

3. In a vending machine, a plurality of spaced superposed inclined stationary article holding platforms, means individual to the platforms for retaining the articles thereupon, a support extending along one edge of the platforms, a releasing means common to the said retaining means and movable along the said support, means for selectively positioning the releasing means with relation to the said retaining means, means for locking the said releasing means in its adjusted position, and means for turning the support to cause the releasing means to render a predetermined one of the retaining means inactive to release an article.

l. In a vending machine, a plurality of spaced superposed stationary and inclined article holding platforms, swingingly mounted members individual to the platforms and co-operating therewith for maintaining the articles thereupon, means for selectively rendering said members inactive to release the article restrained thereby,

said means embodying a support extending along one edge of the platforms,a slide-movable "upon the support to a predetermined position, means carried by the said slide forswinging the said retaining members with relation'to the respective supports when said support is turned, and means for turning the support.

5. In a vending machine, a plurality of spaced superposed stationary and inclined article holding platforms, swinglngly mounted members individual to the platforms andco-operating therewith for maintaining the articles thereupon,

means for selectively rendering said members inactive to release the article restrained thereby, said meansembodying a support extending along one edge of the platforms, a slide movable upon the support to a predetermined position, an element movable with and with respect to said slide for engaging a portion of the retaining member to swing the latter when the said slide is turned, in one direction, said elementyielding to pass the said portion of the retaining momb-er when the said slide is turned in the opposite direction, and means for turning the said slide.

6. In a vending machine, a plurality of spaced superposed stationary and inclined article holding platforms, swingingly mountedmembers individual to the platforms and co-operating therewith for maintaining the articles thereupommeans for selectively rendering said members inactive to release the article restrained thereby, said means embodyinga support extending along one edge of the platforms, a slide movable upon the support to a predetermined position, means carried by the said slide for swinging the said retaining members with relation to the respective supports when said support is turned, means for turning the support, the means for moving the slide upon the said support comprising an endless flexible member, and means for moving the flexible member.

'7. In a vending machine, a plurality of spaced superposed stationary and inclined article holding platforms, swingingly mounted members individual to the platforms and co-operating therewith for maintaining the articles thereupon, means for selectively rendering said membe "s inactive to release the article restrained thereby, said means embodying a support extending along one edge of the platforms, a slide movable upon the support to a predetermined position, means carried by the said slide for swinging the said retaining members with relation to the respective supports when support is turned, means for turning the support, the means for moving t is slide upon the said support comprising a movable endless flexible member, and means for locking the flexible member against movement.

8. In a vending machine, a plurality of spaced superposed article holders, retainers ndividual to and co-cperating with the holders for maintaining the articles against displacement therefrom, a slldable member movable along one edge of the holders and retainers, means carried with said slide and operating to render the retainers inactive with respect to said holders to release the articles, an endless flexible member to which the slide is connected for selectively positioning the slide, an actuator for the endless member, locking means for yieldingly restraining the endless member against movement and for securing the said slide in its adjusted position, and means for imparting another and different movement to the slide when the latter is positioned to render the article retaining meansinactive to release the article.

9. In a vending machine, a plurality of spaced superposed article holders, retainers individual to and co-operating with the holders for maintaining the articles against displacement therefrom, a slida-blemember movable along one edge of the holders and retainers, means carried with said slide and operating to'render the retainers inactive with respect to said holders to release the articles, an endless flexible member to which the slide is connected for selectively positioningthe slide, a pulley over which the endless member passes, an actuating handle for the pulley, a notched disc connected with the pulley, a spring controlled dog co-operating with the notches for yieldingly locking the endless member against movement and for securing the slide in its adjusted position, and means for imparting another and difierent movement to the slide when the latter is positioned to render the article retaining means inactive to release the article.

10. In a vending machine a casing, a plurality of spaced superposed article supporting platforms, restraining means individual to and co-operating with the supports to prevent discharge or" the articles, a support arranged along one edge of the platforms, a slide movable along the support, a handle connected with the slide and projecting through a slot in the casing wall for moving the slide lengthwise of the support, means carried with the slide for rendering the article retaining means inactive to permit the article to be delivered from the platforms, there being recesses arranged along and communicating with the said slot to receive said handle whereby the slide may be rotated with respect to the said support, and means for turning the support to cause the retaining means to be rendered inactive.

11. In a vending machine, a casing, a plurality of spaced superposed article supporting platforms, restraining means individual to and cooperating with the supports to prevent discharge of the articles, a support arranged along one edge of the platforms, a slide movable along the support, a handle connected with the slide and projecting through a slot in the casing wall for moving the slide lengthwise of the support, means carried with the slide for rendering the article retaining means inactive to permit the article to be delivered from the platforms, there being recesses arranged along and communicating with the said slot to receive said handle whereby the slide may be rotated with respect to the said support, means for turning the support to cause the retaining means to be rendered inactive, and means movable with the slide to form a closure for the said slot.

12. In a vending machine, a casing, a plurality of spaced superposed article supporting platforms, restraining means individual to and cooperating with the supports to prevent discharge of the articles, a support arranged along one edge of the platforms, a slide movable along the support, a handle connected with the slide and projecting through a slot in the casing wall for moving the slide lengthwise of the support, means carried with the slide for rendering the article retaining means inactive to permit the article to be delivered from the platforms, there being recesses arranged along and communicating with the said slot to receive said handle whereby the slide may be rotated with respect to the said support, means for turning the support to cause the retaining means to' be rendered inactive, and

an endless flexible apron movable with the slide to form a closure for the said slot.

13. In a vending machine, a plurality of spaced superposed article holding platforms, retaining means co-operating with the platforms for preventing delivery of the articles therefrom, releasing means adapted to be selectively positioned with relation to the said platforms and adapted when actuated to render the retaining means inactive to release the article, coin controlled means for actuating the said releasing means, and means controlled by the position of said releasing means with relation to the respective platforms for controlling the actuation of said coin controlled means.

14. In a vending machine, a plurality of spaced superposed article holding platforms, retaining means co-operating with the platforms for preventing delivery of the articles therefrom, releasing means adapted to be selectively positioned with relation to the said platforms and adapted when actuated to render the retaining means inactive to release the article, coin controlled means for actuating the said releasing means,

said coin controlled means embodying a check carrier having a check seat'adapted to be in verted to discharge the check therefrom, and means rendered active when the said releasing means is improperly positioned with relation to the respective platforms for maintaining the check against delivery from said check seat.

15. In a vending machine a casing, a plurality of spaced superposed article holding platforms, a shiftable retaining member for maintaining the articles against delivery from the platforms, an upright mounted to turn on a vertical axis, a slide movable lengthwise of the upright and adapted to be turned on a vertical axis and with respect to the upright, a handle connected with the slide for moving the same lengthwise of the upright to selectively position the slide with respect to the platforms, and for turning the slide With respect to the upright, said handle extending through a slot in the casing wall, means carried With the slidefor rendering the article retaining means inactive to release the articles, when the upright is turned, and means for turning the upright.

ALBERT E. GEBERT. MYRON H. RICHARDSON. 

